December 8th, 2008

Taking Hoodia everyday to lose weight is very popular among people who are randomly gaining weight due to their uncontrolled eating habits. There is little or no research done on the effectiveness of the Hoodia when used in combination with other supplements and thus to be on the safer side it is always best to go with a very mild usage.

This is what many people have started doing and mixing Green tea with Hoodia Gordonii is becoming very getting very popular. It is believed that this combination is very useful at the same time in increasing the effects on your weight.

Green tea helps in burning fat but this is also well known scientifically that it reduces the pace in which blood sugar level is formed. This is the basic reason why hypothalamus is not informed that we are full and we feel hungry again, even if we have had a balanced diet biologically.

It is very well know that we should not take chances when health is concerned and it is always best to be cautious as we all are aware of the fact that prevention is better than cure. Thus, using Hoodia with green tea might be very productive and useful in controlling hunger but it is better to be safe and not use it much until the scientific results are out after proper researches are done.

Formation of glucose is controlled and the process of formation of blood sugars as well is reduced by green tea. Its blood sugar level which is responsible for informing the brain that one has had enough food but if that is manipulated by the in take of green tea which reduces the pace of digestive system, we still feel hungry and end up over eating.

There are many combinations which might end up being deadly where health is concerned, though our way of thinking and logical point of view might direct us the other way. It is a clear example that one can not consume nerves stimulant along with the nerves relaxant.

Thus, Hoodia which in its real sense will help in informing the hypothalamus that one has had enough food, even if that might not be the actual case, is actually a hunger suppressant. It helps in controlling the hunger as well as makes you feel less inclined towards munching all the time.

Thus, we can say that the combination of green tea and Hoodia with both of them having exactly opposite functions individually as well as different reactions on the body must be taken together in a very moderate quantity and its better to be on safer side. However, it is also known that if the combination has not helped in gaining positive result, at least it does not have any negative side effects as well.

August 10th, 2007

With trends in vitamin and mineral supplements changing in time with the hippest hem lengths, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by — not to mention skeptical of — the nutritional advice you hear on the evening news. And since recent studies have shown that taking certain vitamin supplements might even be bad for you, it’s best to play it safe.

Instead of depending on a pill for your nutritional needs, focus on good food sources.

Here are 10 vitamins and minerals women need to deliver a health boost.

1. Iron

“Most women,” says Pearson, “especially pre-menopausal women, don’t get enough iron.” Red meat is a great source of this essential mineral; however, she recommends limiting your intake to two to three servings per week, since high red meat intake is linked to a higher risk of colon cancer and possibly breast cancer.

Limit your portion sizes, suggests Pearson, opt for leaner cuts and choose fresh meat over processed. Other good sources of iron include fortified cereals, whole grains, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. And by combining these foods with ingredients that are high in vitamin C, your body will best be able to absorb the iron.

2. Vitamin D

While vitamin D deficiency has long been known as a cause of the childhood disease rickets, this vitamin made news recently as an essential nutrient for cancer prevention, osteoporosis and other diseases as well. And in northern countries like Canada, it’s not always easy to get enough vitamin D from sunlight alone. “The majority of adults don’t meet recommended intakes for vitamin D,” says Pearson. So in addition to daily unprotected exposure to sunlight (15 minutes is usually recommended — the Canadian Cancer Society offers recommendations on its website), include food sources of vitamin D in your diet, including vitamin D-fortified milk and milk substitutes, fatty fish such as salmon, and vitamin D-fortified yogurt (note that unlike milk, not all yogurts are fortified.)

3. Calcium

Along with vitamin D, calcium is an essential nutrient for bone health, says Pearson, who recommends milk and other dairy products as good sources of calcium.

Other foods to eat include almonds, beans, sesame seeds and broccoli.

Pearson stresses that it’s difficult to get enough calcium in your diet without milk products or fortified soy milk in your diet.

4. Selenium

This lesser-known mineral, says Pearson, supports the immune system, reduces inflammation and helps protect against cancer. One of the best sources of selenium is Brazil nuts — just one contains more than your daily need of selenium.

Other good sources include sunflower seeds, fish and shellfish and red meat.

5. Vitamin C

While scurvy is practically unknown in a world where fresh fruits and vegetables are available year-round, that doesn’t mean you should neglect your intake of vitamin C. It’s an antioxidant vitamin that is believed to have numerous health benefits, including protecting the brain from damage caused by Alzheimer’s, helping the body better respond to stress and, yes, preventing the common cold.

A glass of orange juice is a classic source, but Pearson recommends limiting your juice intake to one cup a day (because it’s so high in sugar) and choosing whole foods the rest of the time. Try eating citrus fruits, bell peppers, kiwifruit, papaya, broccoli, dark leafy greens and strawberries to boost your vitamin C intake.

6. Vitamin K

“Vitamin K doesn’t get the attention it deserves,” says Pearson. “It plays a crucial role in bone strength, blood clotting and heart health by preventing hardening of the arteries.”

Pearson recommends dark, leafy greens as the best source of vitamin K — try spinach, kale or Swiss chard — as well as pine nuts and avocados.

7. Folate

Popeye was right. You should eat plenty of spinach — but not for its iron content, which is mostly unavailable to the body. Instead, eat spinach for its other health properties, including the cancer-fighting B vitamin folate, which “may slash your risk of Alzheimer’s as well as reduce your risk of having a baby with neural tube defects during pregnancy,” says Pearson.

Other good sources of folate include beans, peanuts, broccoli, corn, lentils and oranges.

8. Vitamin E

The antioxidant vitamin E, which fights free radicals and may reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and some cancers, is an essential part of a healthy diet. And since the jury’s still out on whether to take vitamin E supplements, it’s best to get it from food.

To boost your intake of vitamin E, try a daily serving of nuts and seeds such as almonds and sunflower seeds.

9. Magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral that helps build strong bones and may lower your risk of diabetes by enhancing the action of insulin, says Pearson.

Beans are a great source of magnesium, as are nuts, seeds and green vegetables such as spinach.

10. Potassium

Sufficient potassium is essential for a healthy diet, and many people don’t get enough, says Pearson, who adds that it helps to maintain blood pressure and may reduce your risk of stroke.

July 22nd, 2007

Protein is an important nutrient that performs a number of functions in the body. Protein molecules are long chains that are made up of amino acids, and are important in aiding the well being and functioning of the body. Amongst the functions performed by proteins are the building and repair of the body, muscle growth, aiding the production of hemoglobin, and forming antibodies to fight off disease and infection.

July 22nd, 2007

Certain acids from fish oil, also called Omega-3, may have a positive effect on the body by enhancing the metabolism of muscle proteins, according to a study of the Laval University ‘s Institute of Nutraceutics and Functional Foods.

July 22nd, 2007

Vitamins are very important for your health. These substances are needed by your body so that it can work properly for building tissues and organs, providing energy, defending your body against disease, and keeping your brain and other parts of the nervous system in good condition. A lot of vitamins cannot be made by your body and thus you would to get them from outside sources such as food. But sometimes, people’s diets are not complete and the need to take a nutritional multivitamin supplement arises.

A nutritional multivitamin supplement can help fill the gaps in your dietary requirements. In today’s busy world, people find it quite difficult to maintain a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, therefore, some people find it necessary to get the vitamins and minerals they are missing through nutritional multivitamin supplements. However, it is important to take many things into consideration when planning to take supplements to ensure that you would get its benefits and that you would not harm your health instead.

Here are some things you have to bear in mind when you want to take nutritional multivitamin supplements:

Have you asked your doctor about it?

The most important person to discuss matters such as nutritional supplementation is your doctor or health practitioner. Like medicines, multivitamins should be taken with care in order to gain the most from them. Doctors should be able to tell you what kinds of supplements would be beneficial for your nutritional needs. Your physician would carefully study your medical history alongside the medications you may be currently taking and see if your health profile would be able to take certain supplements

This is important because not all multivitamins are for you. You may have a certain health condition or you may be taking some form of medication that might not be compatible with certain supplements. You would not want to take something you are allergic to, or something that would react adversely to the medicines you have. And this is what your doctor would be able to fully discuss with you.

How much should and can you take?

Like medicines, there is an optimal dosage for every multivitamin supplement. The optimal dosage is one that is not too much nor not too little. More is not always better, and it can even be worse at times because you body can only take so much of certain substances. You might just be wasting your good earned money on something that your body does not even absorb. Worse, you may already be poisoning your body by taking too much of a good thing. Again, you should ask your doctor as to how much of a particular supplement you can take.

Is it safe? Does it come from a reputable source?

A lot of people put their trust on “natural”, “herbal”, and “organic” stuff because of the common notion that such a thing is safe. This could be very misleading because not all things that come from nature are safe for humans. Would you eat poison ivy, or would you drink lizard blood? Those are natural things, but you know that they may not be safe for you. So be sure that what you will take is safe and that it is made by a reputable manufacturer that has a reliable research facility.

Health is very important. That is why a lot of people try to maintain good health by taking nutritional supplements. But before you do so, it is important to scrutinize and plan carefully to be sure that you are truly doing your body something good.

July 22nd, 2007

People have been taking vitamin supplements to augment their nutritional diet needs for so long that popping pills for health is already considered the norm. The danger however, is that people tend to forget that vitamin supplements are not the natural way people throughout history have been filling their dietary and nutritional requirements and thus much care should be taken when considering their consumption.

Perhaps you think you need to enhance your memory and have read about the great memory-enhancing effects of DHA or Gingko Biloba. Maybe you have seen how Vitamin E has improved the complexion of your best friend. You might have seen on TV how fish oil and omega 3 supplements can help prevent heart disease. There could be thousands of reasons you want to take nutritional health supplements, however, before doing so, you should have these things in mind first.

Check with Your Doctor

If you think you want to get the benefits of any particular vitamin supplement, you should ask your doctor if it is indeed right for you. Of all people, it would be your doctor or health practitioner who would know your health profile, and that is very much needed to make a good decision on which nutritional health supplements would benefit you. Your physician would be able to determine from your health history and the medications you are taking whether or not vitamin supplements would help.

Your doctor will also be able to tell you if there are certain supplements that may actually be harmful to you. Some products may create certain adverse reactions to the medicines you are taking or they may not be good for your particular health condition. Your health practitioner would also be able to tell you how much of a particular nutritional supplement would provide you with the optimal benefits.

Just because it is Herbal or Organic does not Mean It Is Safe

People are often misled by marketing tactics that the words herbal, organic, or natural means safe. But in terms of health this is not always the case. Rubber tires are technically organic since in chemistry, an organic substance is anything that has hydrogen and carbon. Poison Ivy is definitely natural and herbal. But you are wise enough not to consume these things for obvious reasons. Sometimes “natural” products may actually be more harmful than their synthetic forms because certain impurities may still be intact. Again, in such cases, it is best to ask your doctor to ensure your safety.

More May Not Be Better

There are many nutritional supplements that are being sold in double, triple, if not quadruple dosages. This may mislead people into thinking that increasing the dosage of supplements may increase their efficacy. But this is often not the case. Your body can only take in a certain amount of vitamins and minerals. At the very least, your body may just be wasting away the extra dosage of your health supplement. At the very worst, the extra dosage may actually be poisoning your body. Take only as much as your doctor has advised you to do so.

Taking nutritional supplements may indeed be beneficial for your health but in order to get these benefits, you must take supplements properly. If you plan to take nutritional supplements, you have to carefully plan so that you would indeed keep your health in good form.